As the 2021-22 campaign gets underway, the pundits are slowly getting back to work and talking about the Montreal Canadiens, the favorite topic in Quebec during the winter season. That being said, Martin McGuire, the voice of the Habs on 98.5, spoke about Jonathan Drouin and Mike Hoffman, one of the new acquisitions of the Blue-White-Red.
Let's start with the second name, Mike Hoffman, who came to Montreal on July 28, and who got a three-year, $4.5 million annual deal. That said, according to McGuire, Hoffman won't be any better at 5-on-5 this year than he was with the St. Louis Blues in 2021.
"I think Hoffman is going to be Hoffman. He's not going to be any better at 5-on-5, 200 feet, than he was this year with the St. Louis Blues. I don't expect more, I don't expect less." - McGuire
In the case of the Quebecer, McGuire noted that he will have to fight for a spot in Montreal's top-six because there is plenty of talent on the wings... Yes, he is full of talent, but his mental state often plays tricks on him.
"Jonathan Drouin is going to have to fight in training camp. Not for a position with the team, but for an important position on the offensive side. He's going to have to go out and get a job inside the top-6." - McGuire
